Supporting Students ~ Saving LIVES: National Educator Conference focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender, Questioning, intersex and all youth (LGBTQIA).

When students don’t feel safe, they are less likely to learn, more likely to give up on school altogether, and in worst case scenarios even take their own lives. According to recent data, 9 out of 10 LGBT youth are harassed at school and have a dropout rate nearly 3 times the national average.

For the past two and a half years, The Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL) has brought together national leaders in education and LGBT experts to empower and teach educators the attitudes, knowledge and skills necessary to create needed change in schools and provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all youth.

On February 17-19, 2012, the 3rd Annual National Educator Conference Focused on LGBTQIA Youth, entitled Supporting Students ~ Saving Lives, took place at the Doubletree San Diego.

This conference is the ONLY national educator conference that focuses on LGBTQIA youth. Many prominent political and social figures, national leaders ineducation and LGBT rights attended.

CESCaL kicked with special awards to MTV and CNN Anchor, Don Lemon.   Gautam Raghavan, Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement at The White House, who serves as the official LGBT Liaison to the Obama Administration opened as special guest speaker.

“Itis important that school districts take preventative measures to ensure that LGBT students feel safe and that we do not have another teen death by suicide due to anti-LGBT bullying,” said Vincent Pompei, Conference Chair.  “It is imperative that we continue to encourage and empower educators, counselors, coaches and the entire community, to ensure that all of our children are protected from the types of vicious bullying that could lead any young person to drop out of school due to safety concerns or worse, take their own life.”